Community Connections | Inclusion, Aging Population

Wellness | Mental Health, Physical Health, Safety

Accessible Housing Society

Our Impact

What We Do

Accessible Housing is a Calgary charity that opens doors to homes that are accessible, affordable and safe for people with limited mobility. Accessible Housing was formed in 1974 to meet the housing needs of young people with severe physical disabilities due to spinal cord injuries. We now help a variety of people with limited mobility through a range of housing types and supports so that everyone has a home.

Vision: Everyone has a home and belongs in community.

Mission: We open doors to homes that are accessible and affordable for people with limited mobility.

Inclusio: Our new affordable and accessible 45-unit home opening early 2018.

Inclusio is a home for 45 Calgarians with limited mobility set to open early 2018. Inclusio is located in the community of Capitol Hill in Calgary, Alberta. It features 45 studio apartments, shared common living spaces on each floor, a dining room and meal services, as well as beautiful views over Confederation Park and patio spaces. The building is safe and modern, featuring concrete construction. Inclusio is supportive living, meaning residents have access to many types of supports for activities of daily living, such as health care aides, case management services, and recreational therapy. Take a sneak peek tour of Inclusio.

Applications are now being accepted for individuals that would like to live at Inclusio, click here to learn more.

The Need – Only 3.6% of Calgary’s total housing supply is affordable housing, yet the national average is 6%.

There are fewer than 433 units of housing in Calgary that are both affordable and accessible.

By 2019, an estimated 200,000Calgarians over the age of 15 will be living with a disability. Individuals with disabilities are four times more likely to use subsidized housing and twice as likely to use homeless shelters to those without disabilities.

Our Impact

90% of our clients say that their lives would be more difficult without our support.

81% of our clients have maintained or increased their social networks & relationships.

Our Programs

How We Do It

Housing with Intensive Support – The Bridge to Home caseworker team helps clients with everything from the basics of daily living like laundry and shopping to life skills like conflict resolution and goal setting. Our team works with their clients so that they can be hopeful, healthy, dream big and thrive in the community.

Residential Accessible Design (RAD Renos) – Unfortunately there are many Calgarians who develop a mobility issue because of a new spinal injury, a progressive disease or age-related mobility issues. These individuals are often barely able to access key areas of their homes like kitchens and bathrooms. Even getting in and out of the home can be a challenge. We help by assessing barriers and then installing and renovating the home to provide a safe and barrier-free environment. This helps people avoid being institutionalized, helping them stay in their community, with their family and support networks.

Housing Registry– Re-launched in March 2017, Accessible Housing’s Housing Registry keeps is a helpful resource for renters and buyers who are searching for accessible homes.

AccessibleUniversity.com – A new initiative from Accessible Housing, Accessible University launched in fall 2016 and provides information to help make your home more accessible.

Our Requests

What You Can Do

Getting involved is easy. You can share your skills, advocate for accessibility in your community or come to our next event!

Volunteer – We are always on the lookout for enthusiastic, energetic, committed people to share their skills. We need individuals and groups. Click here for ideas on how to get involved as a volunteer.

Donate – Your donation will help open doors to homes for people with limited mobility. There are several different ways you can donate to Accessible Housing, such as monthly giving, donating your car or hosting a third-party event. Click here to learn more about options to donate and support Accessible Housing.

Advocate – Contact your Councillor, MLA or MP and urge them to do what they can to increase the number of accessible, affordable homes. Our leaders can do this by helping streamline approval processes for new housing to be built, to provide meaningful incentives for developers and to continue to make land available to be purchased, leased or donated so that not-for-profit organizations can build more housing. Click here for statistics.